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A broker-dealer (the "Firm") agreed to pay $14.5 million to settle allegations by FinCEN, FINRA and the SEC of deficiencies in its anti-money laundering ("AML") program. According to FINRA, the Firm allegedly failed to establish and implement AML programs designed to monitor specific high-risk transactions in customer accounts, including foreign currency wire transfers and transactions in "penny stocks." According to FinCEN, the Firm failed to develop and implement a risk-based AML program associated with accounts that included both traditional brokerage and banking-like services. In addition

FINRA provided an overview of securities-backed lines of credit ("SBLOCs"), a product increasingly offered by securities firms to investors. The investor alert explains: (i) what SBLOCs are; (ii) how they work; (iii) credit limits; (iv) related interest rates and repayments; and (v) weighing potential advantages and risks. The alert recommends investors ask the following questions before taking out an SBLOC: When I take out an SBLOC, what am I agreeing to? Who is the lender? Should I use my investments as collateral? What if the value of my portfolio decreases? Does my investment mix matter